Variety (March 1953)

Wednesday? Maick 25, 195S Mgt Raps Critics'Savage’ Reviews Bot Praises His News Story on Theatre Ban Hartford, March 24. Denial of admission to the New Parsons Theatre here last week of Theodore H. Parker, drama critic for the Hartford Courant, is the result of several attempts to have the scribbler tone down his no- tices and editorial content of his weekly column, “The Lively Arts.” For Parker it was the second ban slapped on him in recent years. First cajne a few seasons back when management of the Shubert, at New Haven, took objection to his notices and put the ban on him. This never came to a show- down state, because the Shubert never made .any overt move to actually keep him from thd thea- tre, Parker gaining admission by ducat purchase. Last week Parker claimed he was barred from the opening (19) of Clifford Odets’ “Country Girl,” stating the theatre at first refused him a critic’s ticket and had then refused to accept a purchased ducat. Courant’s managing editor, William J. Foote, said that Philip Langner and Charles Bowden (who operate the house with Nancy Stern) had called him a week pre- vious to ask him to stop sending Parker to review plays, because his reviews were so “savage.” Review of “Girl” appeared Fri- day (20) in the Courant, as a quar- ter column of blank newsprint on page two, under headline “Odets Play Presented At Parsons,” This was followed by name of play and cast, then the blank space, with a three-word note in the middle: “See page one.” Page one carried story of the ban. "Girl” company manager later asked Parker to come into the theatre as his guest, and theatre management offered to refund (Continued on page 75) Brenda de Band May Do N.Y. Ditto of Brit ’Murder’ Brenda de Banzi, featured in the \ current London production of “Murder Mistaken,” may repeat her barmaid characterization in the Broadway edition scheduled for next fall. However, the deal may hinge on whether the actress can leave the original troupe in time for the play's -tryout late this spring at the Alcazar, San Fran- cisco. The Broadway presentation is slated for fall. Edward Choate and George Ross, who are associated with Wauna Paul in the London production, are doing the Janet Green melo- drama in the U.S. David Wayne and Alexis Smith are set for the leads, with H.C. Potter directing. ‘Four Colonels’ Now in Black PVSmEfihr John Forsythe Tapped For Patrick’s Teahouse’ John Forsythe is set for “Tea- house of the August Moon,” John Patrick’s dramatiration of the Vern Snider novelet, which Maurice Evans and George Schaefer are producing in the fall. Actor, whose last previous .Broadway appearance was as Henry Fonda’s successor in “Mister Roberts,” is getting out of a film commitment for the legit assignment. B’way House Scramble Blocks Future Of ‘April,’ ‘Pink’ and 2 in Rehearsal Blast Vs. leftist’ Benefit j May K.O. April 8 Town’! Actors Equity Slate Seen TIpset’ Win for Liberals; 2-1 Margin Vs. Tories’ Makeup of the nominating com- mittee for the coming annual elec- tion of Actors Equity is regarded by union. insiders as an upset vic- tory for the liberal forces. All six membership representatives on the committee, named at the re- cent quarterly membership meet- ing, were put up by the moderate liberals. They defeated the con- servative candidates by approxi- mately 2-to-l. The meeting was well attended. As a result, the liberals will have a 6-to-3 edge on the nominat- ing committee which selects the official slate for the anpual elec- tion to be held at the membership meeting June 5. On that basis, the prospect is that the regular ticket will be at least mildly liberal. However, any faction not satisfied with the makeup of the official slate may put up an independent ticket, as has occurred on various occasions. Those elected to the committee at the membership meeting March 13 include Ruth McDevitt, Beatrice Straight, Neva Patterson, Melvyn Douglas, John Marriott and George Keane. Council representatives in- c’ude Frederic Tozere, who will be cnairman, and Wynne Gibson, con- sidered ultra conservatives, and Leorge Britton, regarded as a moderate, conservative. The committee will nominate 10 council candidates, to serve five years; five replacements to fill un- expired terms of resigned council members, and a second vicepresi- dent candidate to succeed Ray- mond Massey, who recently re- signed. ‘Okla.Y 10th Anni Party Washington, March 24. “Oklahoma” will mark its 10th year as a continuous legit attrac- ra°i n 0 ? 1I ^ arch 31. when the musi- National. b * playing here ** the t ic T . heatre Guild, its producer, witiir-” 1 -?? a a£ ala bac Hstage party, Hamn? U1 l d - 0 ** icials ’ ty ricist Oscaf a-ri p lc . rstein 2d, composer Rich- rmnw? eer u’ direc tor Rouben Ma- -Ainie’ choreographer Agnes de brak-P anc c ? leste Holm, Alfred original* 1 other numbers of the an/e. 1 Broadwa y cast in attend- | “Love of Four Colonels ” Peter j Ustinov’s comic fantasy co-starring Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, is now operating in the black. The Theatre Guild-Aldrich & Myers production earned back the bal- ance of. its production cost last Week, its 10th on Broadway. Show’s fast financial click rates as something of a surprise, as it drew only a four-three nod from the first-string critics and was gen- erally figured as pretty specialized for mass popularity. However, the original London production, now in its 10th month, is still playing to profitable business although the author recently stepped out as star. “Colonels” was capitalized at $80,000 and involved $65,557 pro- duction cost. .The show earned $5,185 operating profit on its try- out and an additional operating net of $45,820 on its first seven weeks at the Shubert, N. Y. The outstanding balance as of Feb. 28 was $14,552, but that was recouped in the next three weeks as of last Saturday (21). The backers have thus far been repaid $20,000, representing 25% of their investment, and according to the Feb. 28 accounting there was $23,843 balance available after deducting $20,000 for cash reserve. Backers have been informed that another payoff is due “shortly.” ETHEL SHUTTA’S ADDED SONG IN ’APPEARANCE’ Houston, March 24. A new tune, especially written for her use in the presentation Of ’.‘Personal Appearance” at the Playhouse here, was introed by Ethel Shutta during the last week of its three-week run, which wound up March 16. Number, labeled “Pratt, ^ Kansas,” was penned by Carl Victor Little, whose column, By the Way,” runs daily in’the Houston Press. Miss Shutta (Mrs. George Kirksey), onetime Ziegfeld star and ex-wife of former orch leader George Olsen, resides here and is active in local legit produc- tions, “The Late Edwina Black,” which opened last Wednesday (18), is cur- rent at the Playhouse and is sched- uled to run another two weeks. Preem of Bob Downing’s “Around We Go” is slated for a three-week run beginning April 8. The Alley Theatre here, offering non-pro arena productions, is cur- rently dark following the run of “Stalag 17,” which closed March 15. Operation is skedded to relight some time next month with “The Rose Tattoo.” HGd-Summer Brat Jenny Hecht, moppet actress brought up on Actors Equity charges last week by the manage- ment of “Mid-Summer,” will not return to the cast of the show at the Vanderbilt, N. Y. Agreement to that effect was approved yester- day tTues.) by the uniorf council. As, a result, the case against the youngster was dropped. Charges against Miss Hecht, nine-year-old daughter of play- wright Ben Hecht, were brought by the “Mid-Summer” management and members of the cast. Virtually everyone involved in the case refused to be quoted on it, but it was learned that other players in the company and representatives of the management accused the youngster of misbehavior onstage, including ad libs and bits of visual business tending to disrupt the performance. The situation reportedly erupted in violent backstage quarrels, with Miss Hecht’s mother, who invari- ably accompanied her to the thea- tre, siding with the youngster and, it's claimed, defying orders from the stage managers and company manager. Hecht was quoted by one daily as denying that his daughter had been insubordinate. It was intimated that other cast members were jealous of the moppet and plotted against her because she drew favorable com- ment in the reviews. Cancellation of the April 8 per- t,-, . T . . ■ formance of “Wonderful Town." Robe rt Lewis will stage th e show, i Broadway legituner starring Rosa- , 1 lind Russell, appeared imminent ! yesterday (Tues.). According to John McManus, editor of the Na- tional Guardian, weekly publica- | tion which had bought 300 seats for the performance as a benefit, noti- fication of the cancellation came to j him from the Shuberts. ! Management, however, has not yet taken any action, but it’s re- ported the Robert Fryer, show’s producer, is dickering with the unions for a waiver to schedule an extra performance Sunday* April 12, without double pay. Action was sparked by N. Y, News columnist Ed Sullivan’s re- ,cent accusation that the National Guardian is a Commie-front organi- zation. .Another block of seats for the same performance had been bought by the Speyer Hospital for Animals. D. of J. Probing Government investigation of the legit truckers’ organization and the teamsters union is underway in New York. According to several producers and managers, Dept, of Justice agents have been seeking possible evidence relating to monopolistic practices of the Allied Theatrical Transfer Assn., Inc., which in- cludes all the principal legit haul- ing companies and the Internation- al Brotherhood of Teamsters & Chauffeurs, Local 817. Although details are vague, it has been learned that Attorney General Herbert Brownell has giv- en a go-ahead for the probe and that subpoenas have been issued in New York. It’s reported that haul . ing of TV as well as legit scenery When the case was brought to * s studied, the Equity council at its regular weekly meeting March 17, the charges were' within the union’s jurisdiction, and a hearing was set for next Tuesday (31). However, one council member raised a ques- tion of whether something coqld not be done to alleviate the situa- tion for the “Mid-Summer” cast in tl}£ interim. It developed that under extreme circumstances the union by-laws permit the council to take summary action pending a full hearing. The council then voted .unanimously to suspend Miss Hecht until the case could be tried. Subsequently, union officials arranged a settlement. The man- agement agreed to release the youngster from her run-of-the-play contract, and at the urging of Equity officials, Mrs. Hecht ac- cepted that arrangement. The situation was a delicate one, not only because the union bad to deal with a non-member (Mrs. Hecht) on a matter involving a member (her . daughter), but be- cause it was felt that Equity’s posi- tion as an organization of adults carrying on a dispute with a child was subject to possible misinter- pretation and unjust criticism. Miss Hecht’s understudy, Ellen Barrie, who took over the preco- cious brat in the Vina Delmar comedy-drama, will now continue it permanently. Guild Seeking Carey For ‘Wedding’ Lead Macdonald Carey has been of- fered the lead in the Theatre Guild’s proposed Broadway pro- duction of Hagar Wilde’s “The Tin Wedding,” slated to open next September. Film star was in the play’s try- out last September at the West- port (Conn.) Country Playhouse, but the Broadway opening was postponed at that time for the playwright to revise the script. « ' » i 41 V Suspense Drama to Bow At Dallas Theatre ’53 Dallas, March 24. Theatre ’53 here begins a three- week run next Monday (30) of “The Day’s Mischief,” new sus- pense drama by Lesley Storm. Sixth and final new script of the season will be directed by Ramsey Burch. Final production will be Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s “The Rivals,” April 20 to May 9, re- placing his previously - announced comedy, “The School for Scandal.” With “Late Love,” Rosemary Casey’s new comedy, racking up the best b.o. of the current sea- son for regular three-week runs, through Saturday (21), hit play is now in repertory for a fourth week, through Saturday (28). FONDA MULLS’ROBERTS’ U. OF MINN. REPRISE Minneapolis, March 24. Here in “Point of No Return," Henry Fonda, onetime U. of Min- nesota student, says he may re- turn to play the title role in “Mis- ter Roberts,” which lie created and in which he has appeared here, for a single performance in a U. of Minnesota Theatre pro- duction on the campus. It would be for a benefit to help the theatre’s drive for money to build its proposed $1,000,000 campus playhouse. Dr. Frank Whiting, theatre director, made the request to Fonda, who immediately indicated his interest in the proj- ect and proposal. Dr. Whiting’s plan is to raise part of the needed funds by a number of such special benefit hit plays’ productions with their original stage and screen stars. Three to One’to Preem As Pitt Spring Revue Pittsburgh, March 24. Pittsburgh Playhouse has de- cided to forego an original for its annual spring musical this year and instead will do the Nancy Hamilton-Mofgan Lewis “Three to One.” This Is the revue made up of sketches and songs from the three Hamilton-Lewis shows, “One For the Money,” “Two to Make Ready” and “Three for the' Show.” Overall production will be di- rected by Fred Burleigh, with Ken Welch in charge of music and Frank Wagnor doing choreography^ “Three to One” opens a four-week run May 2. Original spring musical tradi- tion started at the Playhouse with couple of revues by Charlie Gay- nor, which were later condensed into the Broadway hit, “Lend An Ear.” However, Burleigh wasn’t able to come up with anything new this year and decided to put on something established. Incidental- ly, none of the Hamilton-Lewis musicals ever played Pittsburgh. Another of Broadway’s periodic booking jams is raising managerial blood pressure this week. With only one regular legit house avail- able, two shows are on the hook out of town waiting for the tieup to ease so they can schedule New York openings, and two others are in rehearsal with no contractual guarantee of a Broadway location. “I Found April,” playing an ex- tended shakedown tour with Con- stance Bennett as star, and “Pink Elephant," breaking in this week in New Haven, are hung up with only vague assurances of New York houses. “Men of Distinction” is understood to hove a theatre on an “if” basis, as does “Masquer- ade." Latter two are rehearsing prior to tryout tours. Situation can be critical, since losses on road tryouts are apt to be murderous for almost anything but an indicated smash with at least one b.o. name in the cast. Under present conditions of pro- duction financing, few manage- ments can afford big tryout defi- cits, so shows that go heavily into the red and can’t be brought in quickly are in danger of founder- ing. Or. as happens at least a few times each season, the original management has to give up its stake in the production in return for being bailed out. A fairly com- mon alternative is to curtail the scheduled tuneup tour and bring the show to Broadway before the doctoring is completed. In the ^present instance, the managements of “I Found April” and “Pink Elephant” are under- continued on page 75) Surefire Schonceit Star System—If You’re His Friend, You Get Billing Lou Schonceit, head of the Mackey ticket agency, N! Y. f has his own method of determining who gets billing In current Broadway shows. On the big board on wall of his office, facing patrons, the vari- ous attractions are listed, with Schonceit’s designated stars. In each, case the selection is a matter of personal whim. “They’re friends, of mine,” the broker explains. “If anyone doesn't • approve, he can make up his own slate. This is my agency, isn’t it?” . He says he’s never had complaints. Those gifen billing last week by Schonceit were Beatrice Lillie ("An Evening with Beatrice Lillie”), Richard Whorf (“Fifth Season”), Shirley Booth (“Time of the Cuckoo”), Tom Ewell (“Seven Year Itch”), Harry Clark (“Wish You Were Here”), Myron McCor- mick (“South Pacific’’), and Con- stance Carpenter (“King and I”). Among actual stars omitted wefre Maurice Evans (“Dial M for Mur- der”), Tyrone Power (“John Brown’s Body”), Victor Moore, G. Carroll and Beulah . Bondi (“On Borrowed Time”), Vivienne Segal and Harold Lang (“Pal Joey”), Yul Brynner (“King and I”), Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer (“Love of Four Colonels’’), and Rosalind Russell (“Wonderful Town”), No producers are mentioned on this list. However, among the in- coming productions, special prom- inence is given to Bernard Hart, whose revival of “Room Service” i9 due soon. Hart is Schonceit’s pal and a frequenter of Sardi’s restau- rant in the same building as the Mackey agency. Kaycee Opera Festival Pays Off With 30G B.O. Kansas City, March 24. Second week of the two-stanza opera festivals of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra came off as well as the first week, with near- capacity houses in the 2,572-seat Music Hall for both performances Thursday (19) and . Saturday (21). Bill, was a double-feature of “1 Pagliacci(’ and “Cavalleria Rustic canna.”.J Festival, on two successive week- ends, was something of an experi- ment of the Philharmonic, which hopes to establish the project as ah annual spring event. Last week’s two-night program offered “Li Boheme,” Four performances drew nearly 10,000 payees, with gross near $30,000, just under capacity*